In addition to his work as an arbitrator and mediator, Chris M. Kwok, Esq. is a teacher, facilitator, and mentor who designs and conducts a diverse array of programs, trainings and courses ranging from basic and advanced mediation skills, advocacy, conflict management, to the intersectionality of dispute prevention and resolution with issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, implicit bias, and identity. His students have included highly respected judges, lawyers and ADR professionals, students of prestigious universities, and human resource and Fortune 500 corporate executives.
Mr. Kwok is particularly adept at linking theories of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to the practice of helping real people, companies, law firms and organizations better understand and resolve disputes, address tensions, and better understand the complex fabric of historical, societal, social, racial and discriminatory underpinnings that are pervasive throughout business and personal conflicts. His decades of practical, hands-on experience as an advocate, mediator, community leader guide and enlighten his engagement. He understands human conflict in the context of our shared histories and has a special talent in helping to reveal how these relationships impact and influence the actions, positions and interests of parties in conflict.
Mr. Kwok has been a trailblazer in numerous Asian-American Affinity Bars and organizations, including National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), and his decades of scholarship and engagement make him a unique and sought-after speaker on matters of diversity, equity and inclusion and the Asian-American experience.
Mr. Kwok was born in China and raised in Queens. He joined JAMS after a 15-year career at the New York District Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). During his tenure at the EEOC, Mr. Kwok also served for four years as supervisory ADR coordinator, where in addition to his own mediation work, he oversaw employment law mediations across EEOC offices within the New York District Office region. He proudly helped create the Asian American Pacific Islander Network, where he served as its founding Chair. This organization served as the national Asian American employee resource group for the EEOC. He also served as the EEOC NYDO representative to the White House Initiative on Asian Americans Pacific Islanders.
On the topics of:
- Origins of Anti-Asian Violence
- History of Asian America
- Advancement of Asian American employees in the workplace
Chris is available for Teaching, Training, and Facilitation Services:
- Keynote speaking engagements
- 1-hour programs
- ½ day Training/Facilitation
- Full-day and multi-day Courses and Trainings
- Tailored Conflict Resolution, Diversity and Inclusion interventions
For additional information on tailored programs, courses and facilitation services, or to book Mr. Kwok for a speaking engagement, please contact his Case Manager.
Selected Publications and Presentations:
Mr. Kwok is the co-executive editor of the AABANY/Paul Weiss Report: “A Rising Tide of Hate and Violence Against Asian Americans in New York During COVID-19: Impact, Causes, Solutions.” Related Press Release.
Mr. Kwok has spoken at leading organizations including:
- Law Firms
- Bar Associations
- Educational Institutions
- Major companies in the Financial Services, Health Insurance, Insurance and Technology Investing sectors
Mr. Kwok is a widely-cited authority and has appeared as a guest speaker or expert on media outlets including blogs, newspapers and podcasts, including:
- NPR
- CBS 2 - NYC Local News
- Fox 5 - NYC Local News
- ABC - Australian Broadcasting Company
- Gothamist
- PBS - Metrofocus
- RTHK - Radio Television Hong Kong
- SCMP - South China Morning Post
- NY Times
- NY Magazine
- NY Daily News
- Politico
- The City
- LA Magazine
- CNN
- NY Metro
- Today.com
- HBO
Links to selected media:
- “Hate crimes skyrocket by 139 per cent in New York City,” The Independent, July 2021
- “Asian Americans fight racism and struggle to redefine their identity,” Medill Reports Chicago, March 2021
- “We need to recognize and fight against anti-Asian hatred,” The GW Hatchet, April 2021
- “Son of Atlanta Shooting Victim Calls Accused Shooter's 'Sex Addiction' Claim 'Bull****',” INSIDE Edition, March 2021
- “Meghan McCain retracts defense of Donald Trump calling COVID ‘the China Virus’,” Daily News, March 2021
- “What can be done to stem hatred against Asian Americans?” City & State New York, March 2021
- “Anti-Asian Hate Crime Crosses Racial and Ethnic Lines,” Voice of America, March 2021
- “Brutal attack on Filipino woman sparks outrage: ‘Everybody is on edge',” WIO News, March 2021
- “Lawmakers Want To Reform Hate Crime Laws. Will That Actually Ease Attacks On Asian Community?” Spectrum News NY1, March 2021
- “Hate Crimes Against Asian-Americans Are Up as Overall Crime Goes Down,” Spectrum News NY1, March 2021
- “83-year-old Asian-American Woman Was Spit On & Punched 'without Provocation': NY Police,” Republic World, March 2021
- “NYPD to warn people over 'hurtful' comments: Bill de Blasio orders cops to dish out warnings for discrimination that isn't criminal after six Asian women were killed in Georgia massage parlor shooting,” Daily Mail, March 2021
- “Anti-Asian Hate Crime Surge Fuels Demands for Systemic and Sensitive Responses,” The City, February 2021
- Podcast, “Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Anti-Asian Violence Spikes Across the U.S.,” WNYC Studios, February 2021
- “Attacks on Asian-Americans in New York Stoke Fear, Anxiety and Anger,” The New York Times, February 2021
- “Anti-Asian violence has surged in the US since COVID-19. But it didn't start there,” TODAY, March 2021
- “Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Spiked in L.A. Last Year,” Los Angeles Magazine, March 2021
- “Asian Americans Express Alarm Over Recent Acts of Violence And Demand Action,” Gothamist, February 2021
- “No Hate Crime Charges in Random Stabbing of Asian NYC Man,” New York Intelligencer, February 2021
- “Weaponized coronavirus language is endangering Asian-American lives,” Daily News, March 2021
- “Civil Rights Lawyer Gloria Allred on Harvey Weinstein,” WGN Radio 720, March 2021
- “International District businesses stigmatized by coronavirus concerns,” KOMO News, February 2020
- “Does anti-China sentiment in US repeat history?” Global Times, December 2018
